Frederick Law Olmstead, a New York free state fundraiser and landscape architect, wrote to James Abbott. Olmstead reported to him that he had ordered "the instrument" [howitzer cannon], which would be ready to ship in three days time along with its ammunition accessories, excepting powder. He would send instructions for its use separately, so that it may be used to "best effect", which he approximated as "equally effective with a simultaneous fire of 100 muskets" and "worth a dozen field pieces."

The current URL is http://www.territorialkansasonline.org/~imlskto/cgi-bin/index.php?SCREEN=show_document&document_id=102439&SCREEN_FROM=keyword&selected_keyword=Weapons%20(see%20also%20Guns)&startsearchat=5.